After Saturday's disappointing performance at Hullbridge you hoped for a reaction. Despite the result I believe we got one.
Sudbury lined up with a 4-2-3-1 formation, adding a touch of pace to our attacking play that has been absent of late.
Bury started fast as they were always going to do, pressing us back with a succession of crosses and overlaps. Corner after corner were conceded but we looked firm. Paul Walker was called upon sporadically to pull off saves but we did look solid and organised at the back. O'Malley in for Bennett looked comfortable at right back. Once the opening 10 minute salvo was seen off we began to start causing Bury some problems of our own. Harris, Hunter, Harvey and Maycock all found themselves at times running at our rivals backline. Hunter had an effort smothered by Bury keeper Barden and from the resultant corner Marks glanced a header just wide of the far post. The pattern of the game was set. Bury pressure and then Sudbury trying to hit Bury on the counter. On the half hour mark Hunter tested Barden again with a low shot from just outside the box.
At the break with it all square it was hard to tell which way the game would sway. It was entertaining and unpredictable. I was seeing perhaps our best defensive display of the season so far and i liked the pace on the break but it surely couldn't finish goalless, there had been too many chances so far.
The 2nd half continued in the same vein. Hunter twice thwarted twice more by Barden then on the hour mark... down goes Stafford in our penalty area (perhaps) under a challenge by Harvey. Walker is sent the wrong way from the resultant penalty and the game has changed.
Unfortunately we didn't really look like getting back into the game, we didn't get up a head of steam and push them back at all. Instead O'Malley conceded another penalty with 15 to go and that was really that. Walker guessing the right way but not able to get a hand on another clinically taken penalty. A minute later and it was goodnight as our shape was lost and a glaring heading from a right wing cross completed the scoring and sealed the points.
Hammett, Bennett and Mayhew replaced Grimwood, Harris and Maycock but the game was done.
Ok so yes we lost. I had no qualms about our performance. We came up against a side brimming with confidence, infront of a decent vocal home crowd. Perhaps we got a bit over run in the middle of the park but i liked what i saw with the back 4.
No game Saturday and then the Velocity cup away at Coggeshall next Tuesday. We go again